Each December, I’m invited to participate in Pazz & Jop, the Village Voice’s annual “best of” poll.

P & J is restricted to less than 1500 so-called professionals, which means armchair critics are shit out of luck.

I’m a rarity in my guild; I hate compiling lists. I submit to the Voice, however, because they appeal to my inner elitist.

Also, they pay an infinitesimal amount for comments. And I have been known to be motivated by my wallet.

Here are my picks:

#1. Antony & the Johnsons — I Am a Bird Now. Read my interview with Antony here. Reviews here and here.

#2. Sunn O))) — The Black One. Read my review here.

#3. Six Organs of Admittance — School of the Flower. Ben Chasny finds discipline, records outside of his bedroom.

#4. Dengue Fever — Escape from Dragon House. Khmer Rouge can’t keep a good band down!

#5. irr. app. (ext.) — ozeaniche gefühle. Read my review here.

#6. Gang Gang Dance — God’s Money. Heard it a bit late, but I’m totally convinced.

#7. Deerhoof — The Runners Four. The Bay Area’s finest.

#8. Opeth — Ghost Reveries. Ain’t no Blackwater Park. Still, it’s a fantastic metal-prog mood piece.

#9. The Howling Hex — All Night Fox. Hagerty is God.

#10. Feist — Let it Die. The new Broken Social was a bust, but Leslie’s solo release is supa sexy!

For some reason. I wasn’t overly impressed with any hip-hop or electronic albums this year.  M.I.A. gave me a headache; Kanye was disappointing, and grime just a buncha hype.

You might notice that there aren’t any post-punk/disco-dance/boy-bands in my top ten. That’s because I’m fucking sick of them!

There’s also a conspicuous absence of meta/indie-lit/AV Club releases among my faves. This is because I lack the free time to properly digest them.

All in all, a fair-to-middling year. Some of my favorite records were re-issues or stuff from the vaults: Comus, Bill Fay, Terry Reid, Lee Hazelwood, The Grateful Dead.

Faithful readers, feel free to post your picks below the fold. I promise there shall be no shame or judging. Well, maybe just a little.

Stay tuned for New Year’s Resolutions!

Casey Rea was the Seven Days music editor from 2004 until 2007. He won the 2005 John D. Donoghue award for arts criticism from the Vermont Press Association.

4 replies on “Weighing In On ’05…”

  1. Good choice on the Antony album. I’m not sure where it will wind up on my final list but it has stayed with me all year.My top five will probably be:1) The Go! Team – Thunder Lightning Strike2) Nouvelle Vague – s/t3) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – s/t4) Sufjan Stevens – Come On! Feel the Illinoise!5) The National – Alligator

  2. I missed your comment on the new BSS album when I read your list earlier. It won’t be in my top ten and isn’t as good as its predecessor but I wouldn’t call it a bust. A bust of an album is a complete mess. BSS is still a good album and “7/4 Shoreline” is one of their best songs.Are you going up to Montreal on Jan. 17th to see Feist at Le Spectrum?http://www.spectrumdemontreal.ca/Spectrum/index.htm

  3. Yeah, bust is a bit severe. Sprawling is more like it. It’s tough for that band to write a completely shitty song. Just too many cooks in that big ‘ol Canadian kitchen is all.Feist at Spectrum, eh?Maybe!

  4. I’m with you on a few of those Casey, but man come on SMOG! not since “In the Aeroplane” have i been moved by a more honnest expression of self. yeah i know, antony, but i don’t dig on that vaudeville pomp.anyway casey, http://www.kittenwar.com you gotta sign up the kittens now while they’re still cute, it’s the only way they’ll win!have a great new year man,Tannerhighgatecenter.blogspot.com

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